Owen Sheats

Owen Earil Sheats, of Gridley, beloved father and grandfather passed away Monday, October 22, 2012 in Chico, California. He was 89 years old. Owen was born in Bates, Arkansas on June 14, 1923 and moved to California in his early teens. A WWII Veteran, he went into the Army at age 20. He landed at Omaha Beach two days afte...

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Gridley Herald - Gridley, CA

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Posted Oct. 23, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Updated Oct 25, 2012 at 4:32 PM

Posted Oct. 23, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Updated Oct 25, 2012 at 4:32 PM

Owen Earil Sheats, of Gridley, beloved father and grandfather passed away Monday, October 22, 2012 in Chico, California. He was 89 years old. Owen was born in Bates, Arkansas on June 14, 1923 and moved to California in his early teens. A WWII Veteran, he went into the Army at age 20. He landed at Omaha Beach two days after D-Day invasion and later was deployed to help liberate Europe and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, 28th Infantry. Wounded in battle, he received a Purple Heart and other various medals for his service to his country.

After the war, Owen worked in construction in various countries over seas. In 1955 he married Jennie Burbank Sannar and they had one daughter, Jimi Sheats Faria. Owen worked in the construction field and had his own business as Sheats Dragline and Backhoe service. He worked for various farmers in the area and in the 1980’s he farmed rice for a few years as well.

Owen was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Gridley and enjoyed serving the community. His passion was traveling by RV to the coast and he and Jennie and the family traveled often to Fort Bragg and up the coast of California and Oregon.

Owen is preceded in death by his wife, Jennie Sheats, his parents, George and Clara Sheats, brothers Therman and Ishmael Sheats and sisters Velma Hood, Maureen Earl, Beatrice Pfister and Melba Caplinger.

He is survived by his daughter, Jimi Sheats Faria and husband Mark Faria, of Gridley, granddaughter Jessica Faria, of Woodland, California, grandson Brian Faria, of Chico and great-grand daughter Abbygael Faria, of Chico. He is also survived by his sisters, Ava Lee Justeson and LaVern Moss, both of Gridley.

Services will be held at Gridley-Biggs Cemetery on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the gazebo. Contributions to favorite charities are welcomed.